Rise Against, James Blake, DMA’S, Wolf Alice, Dizzee Rascal, Dylan Gossett, Spacey Jane and The Amity Affliction lead the first announcement for the fifth On The Steps summer concert series.
by Paul Cashmere
On The Steps will return to the Sydney Opera House Forecourt from 1 December 2026, with the fifth annual Live Nation concert series opening its first line-up to the public as increased NSW Government capacity limits create additional space for major outdoor concerts. The opening announcement spans nine performances across December, bringing Rise Against, James Blake, DMA’S, Wolf Alice, Dizzee Rascal, Dylan Gossett, Spacey Jane and The Amity Affliction to the Forecourt.
The 2026 series is significant for the venue because revised outdoor event capacity regulations now allow major concerts on the Sydney Opera House Forecourt to accommodate up to 7,000 people. The change has enabled additional tickets to be released for shows that had previously sold out, including Spacey Jane’s two performances.
For Live Nation, the increased capacity comes as On The Steps enters its fifth consecutive year. More than 50,000 people are expected to attend across the 2026 season, with further performances still to be announced.
The first night, Tuesday 1 December, will feature American punk rock band Rise Against with Boston Celtic punk group Dropkick Murphys. The following evening, Mercury Prize winner James Blake will headline on 2 December.
Sydney’s DMA’S take over the Forecourt on 3 December with Melbourne trio Automatic. British alternative rock band Wolf Alice will follow on 4 December, supported by Australian acts Folk Bitch Trio and Swapmeet.
Dizzee Rascal headlines on 5 December with Example, ArrDee and Swaglord Savannah on the supporting bill. Country singer-songwriter Dylan Gossett follows on 6 December with The Jack Wharff Band.
Spacey Jane will perform on 10 and 11 December, with Telenova and Armlock supporting both shows. The series concludes on 12 December with Australian post-hardcore band The Amity Affliction. Support for the James Blake and The Amity Affliction shows is yet to be announced.
The return of On The Steps also reflects the continuing role of the Sydney Opera House Forecourt as one of the city’s principal outdoor concert spaces. Its location overlooking Sydney Harbour gives the venue a distinctive setting, while the capacity increase changes the scale at which major touring acts can perform there.
The ability to release additional tickets is particularly relevant to Spacey Jane, whose two performances had sold out before the capacity adjustment. Rather than adding a separate performance, the change allows Live Nation to increase the audience size for the existing shows.
Mike Ross, promoter at Live Nation Australia, said the fifth year of On The Steps would allow the series to accommodate more fans, while confirming that additional shows will be announced.
“On The Steps is always a privilege to deliver, and it’s incredible that in our fifth year we’re able to welcome more fans than ever to each show,” Ross said. “We’re proud of this first release of acts playing the series, and are working on more shows to be announced in coming months.”
The 2026 programme also continues On The Steps’ connection with Support Act, the Australian music industry charity providing crisis relief, mental health and wellbeing assistance to musicians, managers, crew, music workers and organisations. The series will support Support Act and its Aus Music T-Shirt Day campaign during October and November, with further details to be announced.
The first announcement gives the series a broad musical range, moving between punk rock, electronic music, alternative rock, hip hop, country and Australian heavy music. It also combines international touring artists with established Australian acts, reflecting the mixed programming that has characterised the event.
For Sydney audiences, the capacity increase is the most immediate practical change to the 2026 season. Fans who missed out on previously sold-out performances can now access newly released tickets, while the broader series will continue to expand as further artists and dates are confirmed.
Tour Dates
1 December, Sydney, Sydney Opera House Forecourt: Rise Against with Dropkick Murphys
2 December, Sydney, Sydney Opera House Forecourt: James Blake
3 December, Sydney, Sydney Opera House Forecourt: DMA’S with Automatic
4 December, Sydney, Sydney Opera House Forecourt: Wolf Alice with Folk Bitch Trio and Swapmeet
5 December, Sydney, Sydney Opera House Forecourt: Dizzee Rascal with Example, ArrDee and Swaglord Savannah
6 December, Sydney, Sydney Opera House Forecourt: Dylan Gossett with The Jack Wharff Band
10 December, Sydney, Sydney Opera House Forecourt: Spacey Jane with Telenova and Armlock
11 December, Sydney, Sydney Opera House Forecourt: Spacey Jane with Telenova and Armlock
12 December, Sydney, Sydney Opera House Forecourt: The Amity Affliction
Plus more shows to be announced.
Ticket Details
Tickets for the announced shows are on sale through Live Nation Australia.
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